The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) is advocating for 20 years imprisonment for persons who violently assault their partners.
According to the Ministry, the laws must be punitive enough to deter persons who abuse their spouse by way of beating or perpetrating violent attacks.
“The law must be mandatory to the extent that is a no to beat your wife as Ghana Education Service has it that is no to beat a child in school, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Minister Designate, Mrs Laariba Zueira Abudu stated.
Mrs Abudu made this statement last Friday, November 25, 2022, at a media launch of the 16 Days Activism Campaign Against Gender-based Violence in Accra.
She said November 25, every year is recognized globally as a day to commemorate 16 days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence.
The Minister said the day is celebrated widely to draw attention to the elimination of violence against women.
“I, therefore, deem it an honour to be present to commemorate this important day with you all. I appreciate all the contributions of our development partners for uniting to support the campaign and again appreciate colleagues from other government agencies and civil society groups.”
She said the canker of violence against women and girls transcends continents, countries, cultures, religions, races, ethnicity, and people adding that violence against women comes in various forms including; social violence, physical violence, psychological violence, economic violence, and sexual violence amongst others.
Mrs Abudu said data from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey in Ghana shows that 27.7% of Ghanaian women had experienced at least one form of domestic violence either physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Again, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2017 and 2018 reveals that 38.2% of adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 are reported to have experienced at least one act of sexual violence.
She added that acts of sexual and gender-based violence are some of the most common happenings that are criminal and yet are trivialized in our societies.
These, she said are due to cultural norms, beliefs and practices that continue to put women and girls at a disadvantage in terms of their health, education and general well-being and development.
The Minister indicated that data from the Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in 2020, revealed 710 cases of physical abuse, 305 cases of rape, 1047 cases of defilement, 77 cases of economic abuse and 913 cases of emotional abuse.
Additionally, the Orange Support Center of the ministry also recorded 1,000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence most of which was on intimate partner violence.
This, she said is unacceptable and unjustified.
In the quest to continue to increase awareness, and fight the cause of the vulnerable especially women and girls who daily experience abuses of various types, the ministry is reviewing the Domestic Violence Act,732(2007) and its Legislative Instrument, the National Domestic Violence Policy, the Operational Plan on Ending Child Marriage and the National Gender Policy.
“We are also working relentlessly on the Affirmative Action Bill to get it passed and efforts are geared towards improving our response to issues of gender and gender-based violence and the empowerment of women and girls in all spheres in the country,” Mrs Abudu stated.
The ministry has also trained over 80 Market Executives to serve as paralegals in eight markets centres in Greater Accra, Western and Bono East Regions to assist in these issues which are intended to be replicated across the country.
“We thank the government of Ghana for giving attention to the Victims’ of Domestic Violence Fund which will be used for its intended purpose to bring relief to survivors of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence in many ways.”
She added that the ministry intends to operationalise its shelter in Accra by the first quarter of 2023 to support survivors anytime the need arises.
16 Days Activism
On the ‘16 Days of Activism,’ the minister said the ministry will use the global campaign to seek continuously increase awareness around these issues and mobilise support from the general public to end them.
“As we join the rest of the world to launch this campaign under the theme ‘Unite Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, I call on everyone to take some form of action against gender-based violence wherever you find yourself.”
She called on all traditional and opinion leaders not to condone these forms of abuses under the cover of culture and traditions especially rape and defilement since they are criminal and punishable by law.
Mrs Abudu charged the media to use their platforms to educate the public on these issues as well condemn those acts.
“Let no one die in silence and let no one be left behind in the agenda of sustainable development. There is help. Let’s continue to unite and keep each other safe. Be an activist.”
She said the ministry will use the occasion to launch regional celebrations, staff as well as Radio and TV Talk Shows within the period of the campaign and beyond and would climax it on December 9, with an Awards Night which will be jointly organised by the ministry and its partners in Accra to honour individuals or institutions that made significant contributions in the fight against gender-based violence.
The minister shares the Ministry’s Toll-Free lines or Helpline of hope and the Orange Support Center 0800-800-800, 0800-900-900 and 0800-111-222 for victims to call for support.
She used the occasion to thank all development partners for their support and participation all these years to ensure violence against women are arrested completely.
